TREASURER'S REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

The Derby Diocesan Association of Church Bellringers Income and Expenditure Account Year ended 31 December 2003

Balance sheet as at 31 December 2003

We have examined the Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet, which are in accordance with the books, vouchers and information made available to us.

R.A. Meads & Irene Clarke – Independent Examiners

Treasurer's Report for 2003

My report for the accounts printed above are really notes to explain various important points of which the membership should be aware.

Firstly, I have returned the Accounts Procedure to a simpler form for the average member to understand.   There is an opening balance for the bank and cash in hand as at the 1 st January.   We have income and expenditure throughout the year.   This leads to a closing balance at the bank and cash in hand on the 31 st December.

This reversion to how the accounts used to be presented has caused certain unusual amounts for this year only.   One obvious one is the apparent sharp increase in spending on advertising over 2002.   This is because I have paid a 2002 sum in with 2003 sums, which makes 2002 lower than it should be, and 2003 greater.

There are three large items of expenditure which occur each year – Printing of the Annual Reports which is met out of subscriptions, the Annual Dinner cost which should be met by the sale of tickets and any donation to the Bell Repair Fund as funds permit.

In 2003, we held the Open Day for the Bell Repair Fund, which was very successful.   Your committee, in their wisdom, decided that their usual generous donation to the Bell Repair Fund should, on this one occasion, go to the Gordon Halls Ringing Centre and £800 will be sent shortly.

The eagle-eyed member will notice that we overspent by £ 222.43 last year.   Closer inspection reveals that the Annual Dinner also made a larger profit than usual.   Had it not done so, the actual overspend would have been £ 490.98.   If anyone has doubts about the need to raise the subscriptions as I requested and obtained at our October meeting will understand now why I felt the need to take drastic action.

The division into Subscriptions and Membership being handled by another officer of the Association has proved a great success.   It allows each to concentrate on the important aspect of their function.

You will see from the table below, that the membership has remained almost static over 2003. Let us hope we can see an increase over 2004 – that is my challenge to you all!

Members

Graeme Hughes